A trial-based economic evaluation of peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent, chronic gastrointestinal disorder that imposes a substantial socioeconomic burden. Peppermint oil is a frequently used treatment for IBS, but evidence about cost-effectiveness is lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess cost-effectiveness of small-intestinal release peppermint oil versus placebo in IBS patients. METHODS: In a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial, cost-effectiveness was evaluated from a societal perspective. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were expressed as (1) incremental costs per Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY), and (2) incremental costs per successfully treated patient, that is per abdominal pain responder (according to FDA definitions), both after an eight-week treatment period with placebo versus peppermint oil. Cost-utility and uncertainty were estimated using non-parametric bootstrapping. Sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: The analysis comprised 126 patients (N = 64 placebo, N = 62 small-intestinal release peppermint oil). Peppermint oil was a dominant treatment compared to placebo in 46% of bootstrap replications. Peppermint oil was also more effective but at higher cost in 31% of replications. The net-benefit acceptability curve showed that peppermint oil has a 56% probability of being cost-effective at a conservative willingness-to-pay threshold of €10.000/QALY. Peppermint oil was also a dominant treatment per additional successfully treated patient according to FDA definitions, that is in 51% of replications. In this case, the acceptability curve showed an 89% probability of being cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with IBS, small-intestinal release peppermint oil appears to be a cost-effective treatment although there is uncertainty surrounding the ICER. When using abdominal pain responder as outcome measure for the ICER, peppermint oil has a high probability of being cost-effective. The use of peppermint oil, which is a low-cost treatment, can be justified by the modest QALY gains and slightly higher proportion of abdominal pain responders. More research and long-term data are necessary to confirm the cost-effectiveness of peppermint oil. NCT02716285.

Review of some adulteration detection techniques of edible oils.

Edible oils have economical and nutritional benefits. These oils offer nutrients that are essential to human health because they are the primary source of mono- and poly-unsaturated fats. Moreover, edible oils are used in home cooking and industrial food manufacturing. Therefore, edible oils have a considerable demand worldwide. However, some edible oils, such as olive oil, are more expensive than any other vegetable oils. Thus, oils such as olive oil are mixed with cheap edible oils as a result of the high price difference. Accordingly, adulteration in edible oils to obtain additional profit for the producer becomes a major issue of high concern for consumers. Moreover, adulteration in edible oils can cause several problems that affect consumer health. Therefore, the need for a sensitive, accurate and suitable method to detect the adulteration is highly considered. We provide a brief review of the different methods and techniques used to detect adulteration in edible oils, especially olive oil, with the aim of promoting consumer awareness of the authenticity of edible oils. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Various Vegetable Oils Collected in Chinese Markets.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), chemicals frequently used in agriculture, are a group of highly toxic and persistent organic pollutants. This study assesses the distribution and congener profiles of residual OCPs in 11 types of vegetable oils collected from Chinese markets. All samples were extracted using the modified QuEChERS method prior to analysis by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The sesame oil samples had the highest concentration of OCPs, within the range of 15.30-59.38 ng/g, whereas the peanut oil samples had the lowest OCP concentrations, within the range of 10.83-35.65 ng/g. The possible effect of the processing technology on the pesticide residues in these vegetable oils was also evaluated. It was found that the pressing method leaves more OCPs in vegetable oils than the aqueous extraction and cold-pressing, but the result for leaching was not obvious. In light of the obtained results, it was estimated that the average daily intake of different pesticides is between 0.01 and 2.20 ng/kg bw/day for urban and rural households. Hence, it can be affirmed that, given the amount of the concentration of OCPs detected in the vegetable oils collected from Chinese markets, there are no obvious health risks for urban and rural households by intake.

A Second Derivative Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Method to Discriminate Perilla Oil Authenticity.

The aim of this study was to discriminate the authenticity of perilla oils distributed in Korea using their Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra with attenuated total reflectance accessory. By using orthogonal projections for latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) technique, the =C-H cis-double bond, -C-H asymmetric and -C-H symmetric stretching are determined to be the best variables for discriminating the perilla oil authenticity. Comparing the integral and the second derivative methods between authentic and adulterated perilla oil samples, the most obvious and significant differences among the three variables is =C-H cis-double bond stretching. The procedure for applying the second derivative range of variables found in authentic perilla oil samples correctly discriminated between the adulterated samples of perilla oils with soybean oils and/or corn oils added at concentrations of ≥ 5 vol%. These results showed that the second derivative FT-IR analysis can be used as a simple and alternative method for discriminating the authenticity of perilla oil.

The effect of micronutrient supplementation on growth and hepatic metabolism in diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr fed a low marine ingredient diet.

The effects of low marine ingredient diets supplemented with graded levels (L1, L2, L3) of a micronutrient package (NP) on growth and metabolic responses were studied in diploid and triploid salmon parr. Diploids fed L2 showed significantly improved growth and reduced liver, hepatic steatosis, and viscerosomatic indices, while fish fed L3 showed suppressed growth rate 14 weeks post feeding. In contrast, dietary NP level had no effect on triploid performance. Whole body mineral composition, with exception of copper, did not differ between diet or ploidy. Whole fish total AAs and N-metabolites showed no variation by diet or ploidy. Free circulating AAs and white muscle N-metabolites were higher in triploids than diploids, while branch-chained amino acids were higher in diploids than triploids. Diploids had higher whole body α-tocopherol and hepatic vitamins K1 and K2 than triploids. Increased tissue B-vitamins for niacin and whole-body folate with dietary NP supplementation were observed in diploids but not triploids, while whole body riboflavin was higher in diploids than triploids. Hepatic transcriptome profiles showed that diploids fed diet L2 was more similar to that observed in triploids fed diet L3. In particular, sterol biosynthesis pathways were down-regulated, whereas cytochrome P450 metabolism was up-regulated. One­carbon metabolism was also affected by increasing levels of supplementation in both ploidies. Collectively, results suggested that, for optimised growth and liver function, micronutrient levels be supplemented above current National Research Council (2011) recommendations for Atlantic salmon when fed low marine ingredient diets. The study also suggested differences in nutritional requirements between ploidy.

Biodiesel production as a solution to waste cooking oil (WCO) disposal. Will any type of WCO do for a transesterification process? A quality assessment.

Biodiesel production can be the solution to the problem of how to deal with waste cooking oils (WCO) and the associated problem of environmental contamination. Every year, tonnes of WCO are poured into toilets and drains, contaminating water supplies and creating serious problems in waste water treatment plants. WCO is a waste material that can be used to produce biodiesel. The main aim of this study is to determine how the type of WCO (and how much it has been used) affect the quality of the biodiesel obtained. Four types of WCO (sunflower, maize, olive and a blend of soybean, palm and sunflower) with two different levels of degradation were used to produce biodiesel. The WCO were subjected to a transesterification process, using NaOH and methanol as reagents, reaction temperatures of between 50 and 67.5 °C, a 60 min reaction time and magnetic stirring. The quality of the biodiesel that was obtained was measured on the basis of four parameters as set out in the UNE-EN 14214 standard: density at 15 °C, kinematic viscosity at 40 °C, acid number and iodine value. This characterisation forms part of the second aim of this research, namely to determine which types of WCO can produce a quality biodiesel via a single stage transesterification process. The results show that the biodiesel quality is closely related to that of the WCO, and that the transesterification method can be recommended for WCO with densities (at 15 °C) of up to 930 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity (at 40 °C) of up to 38.46 mm2/s, and acid numbers of up to 4.19 mg KOH/g. The production method used is a simple, economic and effective way of adding value to a hazardous and difficult to manage waste material like WCO.

Kernel oil content and oil composition in walnut (Juglans regia L.) accessions from north-eastern Italy.

BACKGROUND: Walnut oil use is currently limited by its poor oxidative stability due to the high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Modifying the oil composition may be a goal in walnut breeding to increase interest in this crop. Exploring natural variability and identifying the main environmental factors affecting oil quality are necessary in crop selection. Therefore 190 wild accessions were collected and evaluated during 2013 and 2014 for oil content and its fatty acid profile and compared with five commercial cultivars as references. RESULTS: High variation in kernel oil content and fatty acid composition was found in the native walnut. Kernel oil content ranged from 54.2 to 72.2% (w/w). The major fatty acids were linoleic (range 46.9-68.6%), oleic (10.0-25.1%), linolenic (6.9-17.6%), palmitic (3.9-11.4%) and stearic (1.1-5.2%) acids. Some accessions had oil with a fatty acid ratio very different from the reference commercial cultivars, especially the oleic acid/polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio. A significant linear relationship and positive correlation between the daily minimum temperature and oleic acid content was observed in the wild walnuts. CONCLUSION: The wide variation in fatty acid content and composition allows superior accessions to be selected for diffusion among growers. A suitable strategy would be to make a selection against PUFA content rather than just for high oleic acid. In addition, the selected high oleic accessions, before being utilized per se or as donor parents in breeding programs, have to demonstrate they are not adversely affected by the environment. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Impacts of Oil Palm on Recent Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss.

Palm oil is the most widely traded vegetable oil globally, with demand projected to increase substantially in the future. Almost all oil palm grows in areas that were once tropical moist forests, some of them quite recently. The conversion to date, and future expansion, threatens biodiversity and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Today, consumer pressure is pushing companies toward deforestation-free sources of palm oil. To guide interventions aimed at reducing tropical deforestation due to oil palm, we analysed recent expansions and modelled likely future ones. We assessed sample areas to find where oil palm plantations have recently replaced forests in 20 countries, using a combination of high-resolution imagery from Google Earth and Landsat. We then compared these trends to countrywide trends in FAO data for oil palm planted area. Finally, we assessed which forests have high agricultural suitability for future oil palm development, which we refer to as vulnerable forests, and identified critical areas for biodiversity that oil palm expansion threatens. Our analysis reveals regional trends in deforestation associated with oil palm agriculture. In Southeast Asia, 45% of sampled oil palm plantations came from areas that were forests in 1989. For South America, the percentage was 31%. By contrast, in Mesoamerica and Africa, we observed only 2% and 7% of oil palm plantations coming from areas that were forest in 1989. The largest areas of vulnerable forest are in Africa and South America. Vulnerable forests in all four regions of production contain globally high concentrations of mammal and bird species at risk of extinction. However, priority areas for biodiversity conservation differ based on taxa and criteria used. Government regulation and voluntary market interventions can help incentivize the expansion of oil palm plantations in ways that protect biodiversity-rich ecosystems.

Techno-economic comparison of biojet fuel production from lignocellulose, vegetable oil and sugar cane juice.

In this study, a techno-economic comparison was performed considering three processes (thermochemical, biochemical and hybrid) for production of jet fuel from lignocellulosic biomass (2G) versus two processes from first generation (1G) feedstocks, including vegetable oil and sugar cane juice. Mass and energy balances were constructed for energy self-sufficient versions of these processes, not utilising any fossil energy sources, using ASPEN Plus® simulations. All of the investigated processes obtained base minimum jet selling prices (MJSP) that is substantially higher than the market jet fuel price (2-4 fold). The 1G process which converts vegetable oil, obtained the lowest MJSPs of $2.22/kg jet fuel while the two most promising 2G processes- the thermochemical (gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) and hybrid (gasification and biochemical upgrading) processes- reached MJSPs of $2.44/kg and $2.50/kg jet fuel, respectively. According to the economic sensitivity analysis, the feedstock cost and fixed capital investment have the most influence on the MJSP.

Fat composition of vegetable oil spreads and margarines in the USA in 2013: a national marketplace analysis.

Worldwide, the fat composition of spreads and margarines ("spreads") has significantly changed over the past decades. Data on fat composition of US spreads are limited and outdated. This paper compares the fat composition of spreads sold in 2013 to that sold in 2002 in the USA. The fat composition of 37 spreads representing >80% of the US market sales volume was determined by standard analytical methods. Sales volume weighted averages were calculated. In 2013, a 14 g serving of spread contained on average 7.1 g fat and 0.2 g trans-fatty acids and provided 22% and 15% of the daily amounts recommended for male adults in North America of omega-3 α-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid, respectively. Our analysis of the ingredient list on the food label showed that 86% of spreads did not contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO) in 2013. From 2002 to 2013, based on a 14 g serving, total fat and trans-fatty acid content of spreads decreased on average by 2.2 g and 1.5 g, respectively. In the same period, the overall fat composition improved as reflected by a decrease of solid fat (from 39% to 30% of total-fatty acids), and an increase of unsaturated fat (from 61% to 70% of total-fatty acids). The majority of US spreads no longer contains PHVO and can contribute to meeting dietary recommendations by providing unsaturated fat.

Characterization of the Key Odorants in Commercial Cold-Pressed Oils from Unpeeled and Peeled Rapeseeds by the Sensomics Approach.

By application of aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) on the volatile fraction isolated from commercial cold-pressed rapeseed oil prepared from unpeeled seeds, 35 odor-active constituents in the flavor dilution (FD) factor range of 8-8192 were detected. The identification experiments showed that the earthy, pea-like-smelling 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine showed the highest FD factor of 8192, followed by 1-octene-3-one (FD 4096) and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal with an FD of 2048. After quantitation of the 16 key odorants showing FD factors ≥32 by stable isotope dilution assays and a determination of their odor thresholds in deodorized sunflower oil, odor activity values (OAV; ratio of concentration to odor threshold) could be calculated. The results indicated 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal (deep-fried, fatty), and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (cucumber-like) with the highest OAVs. To confirm that the key aroma compounds were correctly identified and quantitated, a recombination experiment was performed by mixing the reference odorants in the same concentrations as they occurred in the rapeseed oil using odorless sunflower oil as the matrix. The recombinate showed a very good agreement with the overall aroma of the oil. In a commercial rapeseed oil prepared from peeled seeds, the same odorants were identified; however, in particular, the FD factor of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) was clearly higher. Quantitation of DMS in 10 commercial rapeseed oils from either peeled and unpeeled seeds revealed significant differences in DMS, but no influence of the peeling process on the amounts of DMS was found. The data can serve as a basis for the quality assessment of cold-pressed rapeseed oil.

Quantitative analysis and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible vegetable oils marketed in Shandong of China.

This work studies on the quantitative analysis and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in edible vegetable oils in Shandong, China. The concentrations of 15 PAHs in 242 samples were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. The results indicated that the mean concentration of 15 PAHs in oil samples was 54.37 µg kg(-1). Low molecular weight PAH compounds were the predominant contamination. Especially, the carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was detected at a mean concentration of 1.28 µg kg(-1), which was lower than the limit of European Union and China. A preliminary evaluation of human health risk assessment for PAHs was accomplished using BaP toxic equivalency factors and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The ILCR values for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors were all larger than 1 × 10(-6), indicating a high potential carcinogenic risk on the dietary exposed populations.

Conserving tropical biodiversity via market forces and spatial targeting.

The recent report from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity [(2010) Global Biodiversity Outlook 3] acknowledges that ongoing biodiversity loss necessitates swift, radical action. Protecting undisturbed lands, although vital, is clearly insufficient, and the key role of unprotected, private land owned is being increasingly recognized. Seeking to avoid common assumptions of a social planner backed by government interventions, the present work focuses on the incentives of the individual landowner. We use detailed data to show that successful conservation on private land depends on three factors: conservation effectiveness (impact on target species), private costs (especially reductions in production), and private benefits (the extent to which conservation activities provide compensation, for example, by enhancing the value of remaining production). By examining the high-profile issue of palm-oil production in a major tropical biodiversity hotspot, we show that the levels of both conservation effectiveness and private costs are inherently spatial; varying the location of conservation activities can radically change both their effectiveness and private cost implications. We also use an economic choice experiment to show that consumers' willingness to pay for conservation-grade palm-oil products has the potential to incentivize private producers sufficiently to engage in conservation activities, supporting vulnerable International Union for Conservation of Nature Red Listed species. However, these incentives vary according to the scale and efficiency of production and the extent to which conservation is targeted to optimize its cost-effectiveness. Our integrated, interdisciplinary approach shows how strategies to harness the power of the market can usefully complement existing--and to-date insufficient--approaches to conservation.

Monitoring of bisphenols in canned tuna from Italian markets.

Monitoring of food contamination from bisphenols is a necessary process for the consumers' risk assessment. A method for the quali-quantitative analysis of Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol B (BPB), Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE), and Bisphenol F Diglycidyl Ether (BFDGE), by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD), was performed and validated for their determination in 33 samples of tuna fish, canned in either oil or aqueous medium. Samples were collected in Italian markets. Tuna and the correspondent preservation medium were analyzed separately. Detected levels of bisphenols ranged from 19.1 to 187.0 ng/g in tuna matrix and from 6.3 to 66.9 ng/mL in oil medium. No bisphenols were found in aqueous medium. At least one of the analytes was found in 83% of the tuna samples in oil medium, whereas tuna samples in aqueous medium showed BPA alone in 67% of samples. 21% of the oil medium samples resulted positive for at least one bisphenol. On the basis of measured concentrations and general daily ingestion rate of canned tuna fish, the probable daily intake of BPA for Italian population was calculated.

Bactericidal Mechanism of Bio-oil Obtained from Fast Pyrolysis of Pinus densiflora Against Two Foodborne Pathogens, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes.

Foodborne bacteria are the leading cause of food spoilage and other related diseases. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of bio-oil (BO) manufactured by fast pyrolysis of pinewood sawdust (Pinus densiflora Siebold and Zucc.) against two disease-causing foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes) was evaluated. BO at a concentration of 1000 µg/disc was highly active against both B. cereus (10.0-10.6 mm-inhibition zone) and L. monocytogenes (10.6-12.0-mm inhibition zone). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration values of BO were 500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively, for both pathogens. At the MIC concentration, BO exhibited an inhibitory effect on the viability of the bacterial pathogens. The mechanism of action of BO revealed its strong impairing effect on the membrane integrity of bacterial cells, which was confirmed by a marked release of 260-nm absorbing material, leakage of electrolytes and K(+) ions, and reduced capacity for osmoregulation under high salt concentration. Scanning electron microscopy clearly showed morphological alteration of the cell membrane due to the effect of BO. Overall, the results of this study suggest that BO exerts effective antibacterial potential against foodborne pathogens and can therefore potentially be used in food processing and preservation.

Migrated phthalate levels into edible oils.

The determination of phthalates in edible oils (virgin olive oil, olive oil, canola oil, hazelnut oil, sunflower oil, corn oil) sold in Turkish markets was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mean phthalate concentrations were between 0.102 and 3.863 mg L(-1) in virgin olive oil; 0.172 and 6.486 mg L(-1) in olive oil; 0.501 and 3.651 mg L(-1) in hazelnut oil; 0.457 and 3.415 mg L(-1) in canola oil; 2.227 and 6.673 mg L(-1) in sunflower oil; and 1.585 and 6.248 mg L(-1) in corn oil. Furthermore, the influence of the types of oil and container to the phthalate migration was investigated. The highest phthalate levels were measured in sunflower oil. The lowest phthalate levels were determined in virgin olive oil and hazelnut oil. The highest phthalate levels were determined in oil samples contained in polyethylene terephthalate.

Trans-fatty acids in cooking oils in Bogota, Colombia: changes in the food supply from 2008 to 2013.

OBJECTIVE: Long-chain n-3 fatty acid intake in Colombia is low because fish consumption is limited. Vegetable oils with high n-3 fatty acid content are recommended, but their concentrations of trans fats were high in previous studies. Thus, regular monitoring of the fatty acid composition of vegetable oils is required. Our objective was to quantify the fatty acid composition in commercially available oils in Bogota, Colombia and determine if composition changed from 2008 to 2013. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. We obtained samples of all commercially available oils reported in a survey of low- and middle-income families with a child participating in the Bogota School Children Cohort. SETTING: Bogota, Colombia. SUBJECTS: Not applicable. RESULTS: Sunflower oil had the highest trans-fatty acid content (2.18%). Canola oil had the lowest proportion of trans-fatty acids (0.40%) and the highest n-3 fatty acid content (9.37%). In terms of percentage reduction from 2008 to 2013 in 18:1 and 18:2 trans-fatty acids, canola oil had 89% and 65% reduction, mixed oils had 44% and 48% reduction, and sunflower oil had 25% and 51 % reduction, respectively. Soyabean oil became widely available in 2013. CONCLUSIONS: The content of trans-fatty acids decreased in all oils from 2008 to 2013, suggesting a voluntary reduction by industry. We believe that regular monitoring of the fatty acid composition of oils is warranted.

Fumonisins B1, B2 and B3 in corn products, wheat flour and corn oil marketed in Shandong province of China.

In this study a total of 522 samples were collected from Shandong province of China in 2014 and analysed for the occurrence of fumonisin B1 (FB1), FB2 and FB3 by isotope dilution ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fumonisins were detected in 98.1% of the corn products, with the average total level of 369.2 µg kg(-1). The individual average values of FB1, FB2 and FB3 in corn products were 268.3, 53.7 and 47.2 µg kg(-1), respectively. The simultaneous occurrence of FB1, FB2 and FB3 was observed in 76.7% of the corn products. Especially, the results demonstrated that the difference in the contamination levels for fumonisins in these three types of corn products was apparent. In addition, 6.2% of the wheat flour samples were contaminated with FB1, with concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 34.6 µg kg(-1). No FB2 or FB3 was detected in wheat flour. In corn oil samples no fumonisins were detected.

Techno-economic evaluation of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil--a case study of Hong Kong.

Fossil fuel shortage is a major challenge worldwide. Therefore, research is currently underway to investigate potential renewable energy sources. Biodiesel is one of the major renewable energy sources that can be obtained from oils and fats by transesterification. However, biodiesel obtained from vegetable oils as feedstock is expensive. Thus, an alternative and inexpensive feedstock such as waste cooking oil (WCO) can be used as feedstock for biodiesel production. In this project, techno-economic analyses were performed on the biodiesel production in Hong Kong using WCO as a feedstock. Three different catalysts such as acid, base, and lipase were evaluated for the biodiesel production from WCO. These economic analyses were then compared to determine the most cost-effective method for the biodiesel production. The internal rate of return (IRR) sensitivity analyses on the WCO price and biodiesel price variation are performed. Acid was found to be the most cost-effective catalyst for the biodiesel production; whereas, lipase was the most expensive catalyst for biodiesel production. In the IRR sensitivity analyses, the acid catalyst can also acquire acceptable IRR despite the variation of the WCO and biodiesel prices.